Structural Violence in the Queer Community: A Comparative Analysis of International Human Rights Protections for LGBTIQ+ People

Abstract

This paper discusses the structural violence experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, or queer (LGBTIQ+) people and people with disabilities (PWD), and reviews the international human rights protections available to each group through United Nations (UN) processes. It begins by exploring the human rights issues faced by LGBTIQ+ people, the impacts on their health and wellbeing, and the lack of international systems in place to protect them. It then repeats the process for PWD and highlights the efficacy of the protections afforded them. A comparative analysis contextualises the current state of international human rights protections for LGBTIQ+ people by comparing them to those of PWD. It is shown that despite similarly mature community-based movements, the progress towards international LGBTIQ+ human rights has been significantly slower. While LGBTIQ+ people and PWD are two distinctly different and diverse groups, I argue that this disparity is not warranted given the similarities in experiences of structural violence and discrimination. In particular, I contend that underlying biases toward LGBTIQ+ people have resulted in inequity within the international human rights discourse. However, a UN international human rights instrument is a vital component in addressing the structural violence and discrimination faced by LGBTIQ+ people.